Master Data Management Database Asset as a Web Service

1. A computer-implemented method for exposing a database asset as a web service, comprising: (a) executing a relational database management system (RDBMS) that stores information in a computer system, wherein: (1) the RDBMS is part of a centralized framework that is configured to control access to the information; (2) one or more business rules and one or more workflow data processes manage the information from multiple sources; (3) the one or more business rules and the one or more workflow data processes are applied to the information from multiple sources, to consolidate the information and produce master data; (4) the master data is stored in a central business database of the RDBMS; (5) the master data is fed to one or more consuming business processes; and (6) access to, management of, and usage of, the master data is limited to the one or more workflow data processes of the centralized framework; (b) creating, via the centralized framework, a rule, of the one or more business rules, that contains an application programming interface (API) definition with predefined input and output for exposing the database asset from the RDBMS as the web service; (c) exposing, via the centralized framework, the rule as the web service; and (d) utilizing, via the centralized framework, the web service to invoke a database operation based on the database asset, and to output a result.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating comprises selecting the database asset from the RDBMS to be exposed as the web service by receiving user input.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the database asset comprises a query.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing a managed query user interface to define the query and a parameter for the query.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the managed query user interface limits exposed functionality to provide security.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the database asset comprises a stored procedure and the predefined input comprises received input that defines parameters for a name of the stored procedure and input/output parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the output is in extensible markup language (XML) format.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the web service is used to invoke the database operation by: converting a request received via the web service into a readable format; a rule engine performing the database operation using the request to obtain the result; the rule engine converting the result to a client format; and outputting the client format to a client.

9. An apparatus for exposing a database asset as a web service, comprising: (a) a relational database management system (RDBMS) executing in a computer system, wherein: (1) the RDBMS is part of a centralized framework that is configured to control access to the information; (2) one or more business rules and one or more workflow data processes manage the information from multiple sources; (3) the one or more business rules and the one or more workflow data processes are applied to the information from multiple sources, to consolidate the information and produce master data; (4) the master data is stored in a central business database of the RDBMS; (5) the master data is fed to one or more consuming business processes; and (6) access to, management of, and usage of, the master data is limited to the one or more workflow data processes of the centralized framework; (b) a rule, of the one or more business rules, that has been created via the centralized framework, wherein: (i) the rule contains an application programming interface (API) definition with predefined input and output for exposing the database asset from the RDBMS as the web service; (ii) the rule is exposed, via the centralized framework, as the web service; and (iii) the web service is utilized, via the centralized framework, to invoke a database operation based on the database asset, and to output a result.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the rule is created by selecting the database asset from the RDBMS to be exposed as the web service by receiving user input.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the database asset comprises a query.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a managed query user interface that is used to define the query and a parameter for the query.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the managed query user interface limits exposed functionality to provide security.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the database asset comprises a stored procedure and the predefined input comprises received input that defines parameters for a name of the stored procedure and input/output parameters.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the output is in extensible markup language (XML) format.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the web service is used to invoke the database operation by: converting a request received via the web service into a readable format; a rule engine performing the database operation using the request to obtain the result; the rule engine converting the result to a client format; and outputting the client format to a client.